The smartphone has come a long way since the first phone of its kind, (The IBM Simon) was released in 1994. What was once an amazing piece of technology that wowed people around the world, is now a common accessory for the majority of the population. Today our phones can take stunning pictures, handle apps that cater to our every need, and can help us communicate with people via text, call, or video so that we can always stay in touch. We all use our phones to talk with friends, family, colleagues and clients, but we all have those apps that keep us up at night or have us checking our phones throughout the day. Here are our confessions.
Kristina
The first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone. Just because I went to sleep, doesn’t mean that the rest of the world did. Who knows what could have happened overnight? How many likes did my Instagram photo get overnight? Or what earth-shattering information did I miss?!
Just kidding. It’s actually my form of waking up. My alarm can go off 100 times, but that is 100 times I can hit the snooze button. In order to wake up and stay awake, I check social media, emails and maybe play a game or two of Candy Crush to start the day.
Michelle
They say that the first step is to admit. Well folks, I Michelle Leng, am addicted to my smartphone. I take it everywhere with me… yes everywhere. When I don’t have my phone I go through various symptoms of withdrawal… the frantic pat down… the “phantom-vibrate”… the “stare down at my empty hands as opposed to looking anyone in the eye.” You could easily say I suffer from Nomophobia (it’s real – look it up). As a millennial, I didn’t grow up with a phone like the new kids these days. I had my first flip phone in grade 12 and then made the switch to Blackberry. Quickly after that, I became the owner of an iPhone 5.
I’ve only ever had 3 cellphones in my entire life, which is why I think I am so obsessed with having it on my person at all time. I find myself opening and reopening apps in the matter of minutes. It’s almost as if I had forgotten that had I spent the last hour browsing Instagram, that the second I close the app my finger is programmed to reopen it 5 seconds later in case I may have missed a new post. When I am not sleeping, I’m scrolling, texting, double-tapping, and pinning. I can go hours without having a real conversation with a single human being. Since I started writing this post (about 7 minutes ago) I have checked my phone 8 times…that, my friends, is the definition of a smartphone addiction.
Julia
Confession: I neglect my smartphone.
As you know, Candybox makes the web sweet. My job is to ensure all your digital campaigns are running as smoothly as possible while bringing in awesome conversions. As I am online all day, I find that I neglect my own social media/smartphone. There are even some days I realize I haven’t even turned my phone on besides to make a call. By the end of the day I like to disconnect. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore my phone and I will have a stage 4 melt down in a parking lot if I thought I lost it; but during the week I enjoy my time offline.
Darrell
‘ll admit it publicly; I’m bad, but I’m getting better.
Heather
When this topic was first introduced, I struggled with what to write about. Like many millennials, I use my phone for pretty much everything, and have completely left behind the world of cordless phones and land lines. I, however, cannot connect with the phrase, “my phone is my life.” The epiphany came while travelling home for the May 24 long weekend. I am addicted to my phone when I am travelling. Whether I am exploring by foot, by car or by train, I use my phone to keep an eye on schedules and timing, and have even activated my GPS to direct me as I walk along the streets of an unfamiliar city. Of course, travelling is not exactly exhilarating, so I resort to a few apps to help me get through the journey. Facebook, Spotify, Netflix and Wheel of Fortune (yes I am a word nerd), help the hours pass by quickly. Of course texting and calling are a must, but when it comes to travelling, I need my apps to help me pass the time.
